Session Topic: What is the role of a public broadcaster in engaging citizens in the democratic process?

Convenor: Erica Balch, Daniel Kitts, Mike Miner - TVO
Recorder: Fleur Reddy
Participants: Andrea Toole, Alison, Nicole D'Cruz, Joyce Tanjuakio, Fleur Reddy, Graham F. Scott, Justin Staysyn, Mary-Margaret Jones, Jason Meyers
_________________________

Notes:

Erica: One of TVO's main mandates involves citizenship. 

Nicole - Citizens need responses from broadcasters.  If we reach out, we want something in return.  

Fleur, Joyce: Different levels of information for different people & needs.  Video based, text based etc.

Mike and Daniel - Number of eyeballs (viewership) related to factors outside of quality of information

Alison - Information as a public good.  Advocating for more in-depth information rather than "It's just like CTV or somewhere else"

Graham - Viewership is not synonymous with popularity of media 

Mary-Margaret: CBC Radio 2 took some risks with their interface.  They've been able to solicit comments and solicit commentary by asking questions - engaging their viewers directly.  

Erica:  Is it a public broadcasters place to encourage citizens to vote, to be engaged in the political process? 

Do we want to hear that we should vote from a broadcaster?  Some do, some don't.   Do we need to have more of a conversation? 

Daniel: Does a station like TVO still look distinctive in the environment of specialty TV, new media?

- I like when I watch the Agenda I feel like a citizen not a consumer.

Erica: TVO is in tune with viewership and responses that are sent to them.  We always ask "How could we do it differently?"

_____________________

What Happens Next?